The credit-recovery program at Julian illustrates why supporters say online learning has the potential to revolutionize education. It can be inexpensive, convenient and flexible — valuable attributes for a cash-strapped district like the Chicago Public Schools. For those reasons, it’s now one of the fastest growing areas of education. But research hasn’t kept up with the rapid expansion, making it tough to know whether the programs really work.

Chicago Public Schools now offers a battery of online programs, ranging from math and reading enrichment, where elementary students spend a few hours a week online using a specific curriculum, to a virtual charter school, where students learn almost entirely from home.

The latest initiative came last week, when school officials announced a pilot program to add 90 minutes to the day at 15 elementary schools using online curriculum in place of certified teachers.

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